9-Day Egypt Tour: Sleeper Train & Luxury Dahabiya Cruise
The Giza Pyramids, a night train to Luxor in a private cabin, and four nights on a dahabiya to Aswan. Your Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport are included.
The short answer
9-Day Egypt Tour: Sleeper Train & Luxury Dahabiya Cruise is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan: 2 nights in Cairo, 1 on sleeper trains, 1 in Luxor and 4 on a dahabiya. Starts on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, sleeper trains, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,789 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Most Nile trips fly you to Luxor or Aswan and put you on a big ship. This one does it the slow way. You spend two nights in Cairo, then board the overnight sleeper train south in a private cabin and wake up near Luxor. After the West Bank and a sunset boat ride, you join a dahabiya, a traditional sailing boat, for four nights down the river to Aswan. A dahabiya moves with the wind and is sometimes towed, so the pace is gentle and the river is the main event. A flight from Aswan brings you back to Cairo for your trip home.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara, Memphis and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 02An evening in Cairo with Cairo Tower and Khan el-Khalili on your first night
- 03The overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor in a private cabin, with dinner and breakfast on board
- 04The West Bank of Luxor: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon and Medinet Habu
- 05A sunset motorboat ride to Banana Island on the Nile
- 06Four nights on a dahabiya, with the temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way to Aswan
- 07Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk on your last day
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per personfrom, Oct–Apr | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortfrom $2,7894★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ Dahabiya · 4 nightsBens Dahabiya · Amoura Dahabiya | $2,789May–Sep: from $2,628 | |
| Classicfrom $3,2875★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Dahabiya · 4 nightsIris Luxury Dahabiya · Royal Cleopatra Dahabiya | $3,287May–Sep: from $2,628 | |
| Prestigefrom $4,2965★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Dahabiya · 4 nightsAzhar Dahabiya | $4,296May–Sep: from $3,617 | |
| Luxuryfrom $6,7815★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa Dahabiya · 4 nightsMinya Dahabiya | $6,781May–Sep: from $4,955 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast · Nile cruise on full board. You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Memphis · Islamic Cairo · Luxor
- 1
A driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, about an hour away. Settle in and rest after your flight. In the evening you set out on a private tour of Cairo by night, with a view from Cairo Tower and a walk through the lanes of the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Dinner is not part of the plan, so you can eat wherever you like.
- 2
A full day with your Egyptologist, with a private vehicle and entrance fees included. You visit the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, then drive to Saqqara and Memphis, the oldest capital and its early pyramid country. The day ends at the Grand Egyptian Museum, with its Tutankhamun collection. Allow 4 to 6 hours at Giza alone. It is a long day, so wear comfortable shoes and take water.
- 3
In the afternoon your Egyptologist takes you to the Citadel of Saladin and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, then on foot through Islamic Cairo to Khan el-Khalili. The guide, vehicle and entrance fees are included. A driver then takes you to Giza station, where you board the sleeper train to Luxor. You have a private cabin, dinner and breakfast on board, and the journey takes about 12 hours.
The train runs on set days, so we confirm your date when you book.
- 4
After breakfast on the train you are met at Luxor station and driven to your hotel. Then comes a day on the West Bank with your Egyptologist: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Medinet Habu. Entrance fees and transport are included.
In the late afternoon a private motorboat takes you to Banana Island for about three hours on the river at sunset, with fresh fruit, mint tea and water.
- 5
A private transfer takes you from Luxor to Esna. Here you visit the Temple of Esna, with the entrance ticket included, and then you join your dahabiya for the first of four nights on the water. A dahabiya is a small traditional sailing boat. It sails when the wind allows and is sometimes towed, so we promise a gentle drift down the river, not sailing every day.
- 6
No sightseeing stop is set for today. It is a day to spend on deck watching the riverbanks, the farmland and the villages slide by, at whatever speed the wind and the river allow. The itinerary does not fix a mooring, so your crew will tell you where the dahabiya ties up for the night. Bring a book and enjoy the quiet.
- 7
Today you visit the Temple of Edfu, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt, with your Egyptologist and the entrance ticket included. Then you return to the dahabiya and carry on upriver. Sailing depends on the wind, so the boat's timing can change a little from the plan. The evening is on board.
- 8
Your Egyptologist guides you around the Temple of Kom Ombo on the riverbank, with the entrance ticket included. It is a double temple, dedicated to two gods, and it stands right on the water. Afterwards you go back on board for your last night on the dahabiya and the approach to Aswan.
- 9
Leave the dahabiya after breakfast for a day tour in Aswan with your Egyptologist: the High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk. Entrance fees and transport are included. A driver then takes you to Aswan airport for the included flight to Cairo, and a private transfer from Cairo takes you to the airport for your flight home.
There is no Cairo night on this day, so sightseeing is arranged around your flights. Please read the flight FAQ below.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
- Sleeper train
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel and one night in a Luxor hotel, with breakfast
- One night on the sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor in a private cabin, with dinner and breakfast on board
- Four nights on a dahabiya, with breakfast each morning
- Domestic flight from Aswan to Cairo
- All airport, hotel, station and Esna transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Cairo by night: private evening tour with Cairo Tower and Khan el-Khalili
- Sunset motorboat ride to Banana Island with fruit, mint tea and water
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including the Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo temples
- Licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide on all sightseeing days
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and crew
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Pack an overnight bag for the sleeper train and keep it handy; cabin space is tight and the big suitcase will be hard to reach.
- 02
Bring earplugs and a charged phone for the sleeper train; rail noise and station announcements are part of the experience.
- 03
At Esna, the temple sits well below street level, so mind the steps and look up at the hall's cleaned, richly colored ceiling.
- 04
Pack binoculars for the quiet river day on the dahabiya; egrets and herons line the banks and are easy to watch from deck.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and dahabiya standard when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel, extra nights in Luxor or Cairo, or a final night in Cairo before your flight home.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want a calmer, more personal way down the Nile than a large ship: a night train, a small sailing boat and plenty of river time. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who can walk over uneven stone and manage a gangway.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, want a fixed timetable, or expect the facilities of a big cruise ship. Days 2 and 9 are long.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- A night train and a sailing boat in one trip, instead of a large cruise ship
- Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Luxor's West Bank and three river temples in nine days
Things to Consider
- The sleeper train runs on set days, so your start date is limited
- The dahabiya follows the wind, so timings can shift, and day 9 has no Cairo night
Where it fits
A good fit for a second look at the Nile or a first trip with a quiet streak. Abu Simbel is not included, so add it if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Nile trips use a large ship and fly in both directions. This one goes south by sleeper train and sails down to Aswan on a small dahabiya, which moves with the wind and carries fewer guests. Hotels, the train cabin, the dahabiya and the one flight are all booked for you.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided Multi-Day Tour with Sleeper Train and Dahabiya Cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Luxor hotels, a private train cabin and a dahabiya, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Memphis · Islamic Cairo · Luxor · Banana Island · Esna · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Cairo hotel and 1 night in a Luxor hotel, with breakfast · 1 night on the sleeper train in a private cabin, with dinner and breakfast · 4 nights on a dahabiya, with breakfast · Domestic flight Aswan to Cairo
- Best for
- Travelers who like slow travel · Couples and friends
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- A small overnight bag for the train, with your essentials
- Soft-soled shoes for the dahabiya deck
- Insect repellent for evenings by the river
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A warm layer for evenings on the river and for the air-conditioned train
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child takes a seat in the vehicle, so transport, guiding and meals are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Train, hotel and dahabiya prices depend on the child's age and the cabin or room used, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking. A dahabiya is a small boat with open decks, so please keep young children close.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves a lot of walking at large archaeological sites, with uneven stone, sand and steps, and the Valley of the Kings has long outdoor stretches with little shade. The sleeper train has narrow corridors and a step up into the carriage. A dahabiya is a small boat, so boarding means a gangway and steps, and movement on board is tighter than on a large ship. The Banana Island boat also needs a step down to the water. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site or on the train and boat. Tell us your needs when you book and we will tell you honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The itinerary uses one domestic flight, an overnight train, a dahabiya and private road transfers. The train replaces a flight on the way south, but vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. A dahabiya is small and often moves under sail when the wind allows, though it is sometimes towed. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to carry refillable water bottles and not to touch painted walls in tombs.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Will I make my international flight?
Be careful here. Your domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so if the flight from Aswan to Cairo is delayed, you can miss the connection home. Day 9 has no Cairo night, so we recommend you add one last night in Cairo. If you must fly to Cairo and connect the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.02Is the sleeper train comfortable?
You have a private cabin with dinner and breakfast on board, and the journey from Cairo to Luxor takes about 12 hours. It is a classic night train, not a luxury hotel, but you wake up in Luxor without an extra flight. The train runs on set days, so we confirm your date when you book.03What is a dahabiya and how is it different from a Nile cruise ship?
A dahabiya is a small traditional sailing boat. It carries far fewer guests than a large cruise ship, moves with the wind and is sometimes towed, so the pace is quiet. It does not have a pool or a big dining hall, and it may not sail every day.04How many nights are on the dahabiya?
Four nights, from Esna on day 5 until you leave in Aswan on day 9. You also spend two nights in Cairo, one night on the sleeper train and one night in Luxor.05Which hotels and dahabiya will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels and the dahabiya for your dates. The route and the sightseeing stay the same at every standard.06Are the entrance fees and the guide included?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees to the sites on the itinerary and the transport are included on every sightseeing day. The Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo tickets are included too.07Which meals are included?
Breakfast is included each morning from day 2, on the train, at the hotels and on the dahabiya. Dinner is included on the sleeper train. Day 1 has no meals in the plan. We confirm the other meals on the dahabiya when you book.08Is Abu Simbel included?
No. This itinerary does not include Abu Simbel. It can be added on a longer tour; ask us and we will show you the options.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt entry visa, gratuities, drinks and meals other than those stated, optional extras such as the Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs, and travel insurance.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-331115
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Tue, Thu or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Esna → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 1 sleeper train · 1 Luxor · 4 dahabiya
- Includes
- Domestic flights, sleeper trains, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers